Restaurant Review: Aci Halal offers great Middle Eastern food

One of the things I enjoy about living near a city is the wonderful variety of ethnic and international cuisines to be found. Case in point: Aci Halal Meat and Turkish Restaurant in Allentown.

The restaurant, a hidden gem on North Second Street, offers fabulous Middle Eastern food at affordable prices. The dishes are well-prepared, with a range of seasonings that meld without any one flavor overpowering the rest of the meal. Meanwhile, the welcoming staff makes diners feel comfortable even before they sit down.

Setting and decor: Diners enter the restaurant through a small grocery specializing in Turkish foods. The dining area is moderately small, with about 20 tables, but is not overly crowded. A deli case displays cold dishes near the entrance to the kitchen. The walls are hung with pictures of the Hagia Sophia and the Turkish coastline, woven textiles and an oud — a stringed instrument similar to a lute.

Entrees: My dining companion and I both opted for kebab platters. The Tavuk kebab ($13.95) featured large chunks of chicken that had rested in a tangy marinade before grilling. My companion requested his beef kebab ($14.95) cooked medium-well, and the texture of the seasoned meat was perfect —lightly crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. Both kebabs came on a bed of rice, with warm roasted tomatoes and chili peppers, and a crunchy lettuce salad.

Sides and beverages: We started off with an order of baba ghanoush ($5.95), a creamy eggplant spread that was garlicky without being overpowering. It was accompanied by a generous basket of warm Turkish bread, with a thin, sesame-topped crust and a pillowy interior that kept me coming back for more. We also devoured a plate of falafel ($5.85), fried chickpea balls flavored with cumin and other spices, and with a cool yogurt sauce. It's a winning combination.

My companion, who has a penchant for international soft drinks, ordered a mango juice ($1.50) and pronounced it thick and fruity. I have a penchant for coffee, and the Turkish coffee ($2.10) met all expectations. It is dark and rich, and the staff will adjust the sugar level for diners' tastes.

Dessert: I went for the baklava ($3.95), with layers of phyllo dough and pistachio nuts. Often the sweetness of baklava can be cloying, but that wasn't the case at Aci Halal. My companion devoured a large slice of coconut cake ($3.95), lightly soaked in syrup and with a gentle lemon flavor.

Service: We found the staff at Aci Halal warm and welcoming, both inside the restaurant and at the attached grocery. Our waitress made sure that dishes were prepared to our liking and kept the bread basket filled. She was also unfailingly polite even with an overbearing, rude customer at a neighboring table. At no time was service lacking.

The bottom line: My companion, a man of few words, summed it up: "That was good. We should go there again." An understatement. Aci Halal is an excellent choice for lunch or dinner, with friends or family. Dinner for two was $55.33 with tax.

Andromeda L. Weissman is a freelance restaurant reviewer for Go Guide. Weissman attempts to remain anonymous during restaurant visits. All meals are paid for by The Morning Call.